Obituary of Sal Madama

Madama, Chief Sal age 97 of Totowa on October 14, 2008. Chief Sal Madama lived his entire life in Paterson before moving to Totowa in 1998. He joined the Fire Department in 1939, became Captain in 1948, Battalion Chief in 1958. Also Supervisor of the Fire Prevention Bureau, Deputy Chief in 1962, Assistant Chief in 1964 and Chief in 1976 to which he passed the test and worked as Chief in Laconia, NH. He received an A.S. degree from Passaic County Community College, a B.S. degree in Public Safety at William Paterson College, and an M.A. in Public Administration also at William Paterson College. In 1977, he became a Fire Consultant and Chief Inspector at Parsippany Troy Hills. In 1979 an Instructor at the Morris County Fire and Police Academy in Morristown. He was an Arson Investigator in Paterson and taught in Passaic County Community College, Bergen Community College and Brookdale Community College. He taught, trained & drilled some 40 Volunteer Fire Departments throughout the Northern NJ area. His philosophy was "A volunteer Fire Department's best defense against fire is a thoroughly trained and disciplined fireman." For many years he played the violin with the former Paterson Philharmonic Orchestra. Sal was mechanically inclined and always ready to help anyone in need, whether it was carpentry work, or a widow who had car trouble. If someone needed a ride to the airport, Sal would take them. Lately, he had joined the Barbershop Quartet in Boonton, although he had been in a Barbershop Quartet in the Fire Department known as the Four Alarmers. He was a member of the National Fire Protection Association, the Fire Mutual Benevolent Association, the New Jersey Fire Chief Association, and he was an Honorary member of the West Paterson Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed going to the various fire departments during the week and kept in tip-top shape by a morning walk every day for many years. He was a former parishioner of St. Bonaventure RC Church, Paterson. He is predeceased by his first wife Jean (nee Kendrioski) in 1978. In 1983 he married again to MaryAnn (nee Bollati) who resides in Totowa. Beloved father of Phyllis Silvestro of New Port Richie, Fl. Brother of Jessie Ferrante of Little Falls. Grandfather of Scott Silvestro of New Port Richie, Fl and the late Dennis Silvestro (1987). He is also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Josephs Home for the Aged 140 Shepherds Lane, Totowa, on Saturday at 10:30 AM Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may call Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Little Sisters of the Poor. Arrangements are by Festa Memorial Funeral Home 111 Union Blvd., Totowa. In lieu of flowers, donations to Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Josephs Home for the Aged would be appreciated. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.